Bath-mat.



I. N. HOLLINGSWORTH.

BATH MAT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1913.

1,097,631. Patented May 26, 1914.

Witnesses Inventor by I v I Attorneys ISAAC N. HOLLINGSVTORTH, G1 LAUDERDALE, TMISSISSIPII.

BATH-MAT.

i oo'igosin Specification of Letters Patent,

Llaten'tet l lll'ay Elli, .ltllat.

T0 (451 whom it may concern Be it known that l, Isaac N. l-lotnnmswon-TH, a citizen of the United States, residing; at Lauder-dale, in the county of Lau- (lerdale and State of Mississippi, have invented a new and useful llath-liiat, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in portable bath mats.

An object of my present invention is to provide a bath mat which comprises a base and an upstanding); flange formed of flexible or pliable material and adapted to retain water therein, to act as a receptacle therefor.

A further object is to provide a flexible mat with an upstanding flange around the side edges thereof and to detachably secure to the same flange and the base of the mat rigid angle members whereby the said flange will be held in an upright position to define a receptacle adapted to receive and retain water therein.

A further object is to provide a mat and flanges around the side edges thereof formed of pliable material with suitable bracing: or stiffening means whereby the flange is held in an upright position and. to provide a ring with a number of flexible elements secured thereto and secured to the upper edges of said flange whereby the said ring may be grasped and raised With the result that the mat will also be raised in the manner of a ban; and will retain the liquid therein Wher by the portable bath mat may be carried to some convenient place and the water emptied thereform.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which Will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of What is claimed without de arting from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof, the preferable form of my invention is illustrated in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved bath mat. Fin. 2 is a similar veiw thereof, in which the center supportinn ring has been raised with the result that taken on the line the mat assumes the nature of a has; like ceptacle for the transportiiur or carrying of the liquid prior to the emptying; of it therefrom. Fig. 3 is a fraginental sectional view taken on the line of Fig. l. i is a view in perspective of one of the braces or stiffening means, whereby the flange is held in an upright receptacle defining cond lion. Fin. 5 a fraginental sectional view Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designatecorrc "pond ing parts throughout the several views, is the bottom of the mat and is formed of some liquid proof and liquid tight pliable material and to the edges of which are secured or formed integral therewith the (hinge (3,

A plurality of pockets are provided. along; the flanges 3 and adjacent portions of the base 5 for the securine of the angle braces 7 thereto so that the things will be held in an upright position and adapted to retain water or other liquid therein. l l ith this in view the strips 8 have been provided, sewed along one edge 9 to the flange (3 and adjacent portions of the base 5 and at their opposite edges are provided with the clasp 10 along the flanges and a similar clasp 11 upon the end portion of the base, The clasps do not require that the flange (3 or the base 5 be punctured but may be secured thereto in any suitable manner. The outer portion of the clasps 10 are rigidly secured to the hinges of the pocket forming llaps or strips 8. Thus when the clasps 10 are unbuttoned and the strips of material 8 drawn back the angle plates *t' which are formed of some rigid material are inserted therein after which the clasps 10 are again buttoned in place and rigidly hold the said bracing or stiiilening members 7 which take the form of angle plates in place and which in turn suitably brace the flanges 6 to retain the same in an upright manner.

Disposed between the pockets 8 are a plurality of eyelets 11 which are adjacentthe upper edge of the flange or rim 6 and to which a plurality of flexible elements or cords 12 are secured, the same extending centrally of the mat and engaging; a ring 12. it is to be understood that the flexible cords or elements 12 are of SH'l'llClQll'h length so as to contact with and lie upon the base 5 during the normal. use of the mat.

The many admntages of a construction as hereinbefore outlined, will be readily appreciated and. among which advantages may be mentioned the desirable feature that the entire mat is formed of flexible and water proof material, so that it may be readily wrapped up and confined within a small space. It is to be noted that when the said mat is to be rolled so as to occupy but little space the bracing or stiffening angle members 7 are first removed from the pockets and may be superposed one upon the other to thus allow the same to be packed in a small space. When it is desired to use the improved form of mat the angle bracing members '7 are inserted within the pockets and the clasps securely buttoned thereover so that the mat- Will define a liquid receiving vessel in which a person may stand while taking a shower bath. "When the same has been completed the ring 12 may be nanually/grasped and the entire mat raised, such as illustrated in Fig. 2, in which it will take the shape of a bag or receptacle so that the liquid contained therein may be readily carried to some convenient point and emptied therefrom. I

Having fully described the invention what I claim is A port-able liquid receiving and containing bath mat comprising a bottom with a flange extending around the side edges thereof, said bottom and flange formed of liquid ti ht and proof material, pockets disposed around the flange and extending for a limited distance across the said bottom, means for holding said pockets in a closed position, angle shaped supports insertible within the said pockets and adapted to engage the bottom and flange to hold the said tlange substantially at right angles to the bottom to define a liquid receiving receptacle thereby, the upper extremity of said flange provided with a plurality of securing means spaced therearound, a finger engaging memher, a plurality of flexible elements engaging the said finger engaging member and the said flange securing means, said finger engaging member adapted to be manually raised for the raising and transporting of said mat, the latter forming a bag-like liquid containing receptacle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC N. HOLLINGSVVORTH.

VJitnesses F. lV. STERLING, C. P. HATOHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

